Workers help workers

“Local unions help Eastern workers” (BDN, March 10) deserves credit as it tells about the most important side of unions – that unions are all about workers helping workers.

Too often, the media portray unions as merely a special interest group selfishly defending their own interest. The generosity of area workers and their unions becomes all the more striking as the more than $18,000 raised for currently laid-off workers at Eastern Fine Paper in Lincoln and Brewer came from hundreds of area workers who have suffered major wage cuts in the past few years.

The article, however, failed to mention one of the three worker organizations that helped coordinate this particular worker relief effort. Of the more than $18,000 raised, the Katahdin Area Labor Council raised more than $6,000 for workers in Lincoln and Brewer. This generosity should be seen in the context of the devastating concessions and layoffs that the workers in Millinocket and East Millinocket have endured over the last several years.

Workers and their unions, together with individuals, organizations and churches, are doing what they can to put mutual aid and support for laid-off workers at the center of our community. These acts of solidarity are cause for pride of everyone in our region.

Jack McKay

President

Greater Bangor Area

Central Labor Council